PEANUT BRITTLE

Makes about 2 lbs

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup water
2 1/2 cups raw peanuts or other coarsely chopped nuts
1 1/2 t baking soda
1 t vanilla

Preparation

Butter 2 large baking sheets; set aside. Butter sides of a heavy 3-quart saucepan. In saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, and 1/2 cup water. Cook and stir over medium-high heat to boiling. Clip candy thermometer to side of pan. Cook and stir over medium-low heat to 275°, soft-crack stage (about 30 minutes). Add nuts; cook and stir to 295°, hard-crack stage (15-20 minutes more). Remove saucepan from heat; remove thermometer.

Quickly add vanilla, stir in briskly. Sprinkle baking soda over mixture, stirring constantly. Immediately pour onto prepared baking sheets. Cool; break into pieces. Store tightly covered.

This recipe produces a "fluffy" brittle, the candy is lightly honeycombed and opaque. For a dark and clear brittle, omit the baking soda. And let me know how you like it.